According to CAST:
The central practical premise of UDL is that a curriculum should include alternatives to make it accessible and appropriate for individuals with different backgrounds, learning styles, abilities, and disabilities in widely varied learning contexts.The "universal" in universal design does not imply one optimal solution for everyone. Rather, it reflects an awareness of the unique nature of each learner and the need to accommodate differences, creating learning experiences that suit the learner and maximize his or her ability to progress.
1. Students with disabilities fall along a continuum of learner differences rather than constituting a separate category.
2. Teacher adjustments for learner differences should occur for all students, not just those with disabilities.
3. Curriculum materials should be varied and diverse including digital and online resources, rather than centering on a single textbook.
4. Instead of remediating students so that they can learn from a set curriculum, curriculum should be made flexible to accommodate learner differences.
UDL shifts old assumptions about teaching and learning in four fundamental ways:
In inclusion classrooms, common concerns abound: "Will a curriculum aimed at general education students leave students with special needs behind? Will a curriculum aimed at students with special needs leave the general education students bored and unchallenged?"

The concept of Universal Design for Learning ™ was originated by the not-for-profit organization CAST. It reframes the concept of special needs vs. general educaion students, and asks instead, "How can we create a learning environment that meets ALL of the diverse needs of the students in a class?"
As a teacher, how can you ensure that your classroom provides the best learning experience for all of your students?
From the Disability History Museum- www.disabilitymuseum.org
"Seven Children Sitting At A Table ," The Arc of the US, http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/lib/stills/229card.htm
What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?
Step 2- Become familiar with the concept of Universal Design for Learning™
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Review your state's curriculum standards.
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